Nonclogging bin structure



Sept. 5, 1950 w. EATON NONCLOGGING BIN STRUCTURE Filed March 4, 1944 4Sheets-Sheet 5L INVENTOR.

Wyn n an E a i an v apt, 5, 1950 w. EATON 9 9 NONCLOGGING BIN STRUCTUREFiled. March 4, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR.

Wym an Eaf 0 1'2 p 1950 w. EATON 2,521,156

NONCLOGGING BIN STRUCTURE Filed March 4, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.Wym cm Ea on alm iMw/i wfm a irry;

Sept. 5, 1950 w. EATON 2,521,156

NONCLOGGING BIN STRUCTURE Filed March 4, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.Wl/m a n Ea Z 0 n Patented Sept. 5, 1950 NONCLOGGING BIN STRUCTURE WymanEaton; Chicago, IlL, assignor to Freyn Engineering Company, Chicago,111., a corporation of Maine Application March 4, 1944, SerialNo.525,065

' The present invention relates to improvements in non-clogging binstructures.

More particularly the present invention relates to improvements in binstructures such as, are used for supplying materials to scale cars suchas used in connection with blast furnaces or anal ogous structures. Thebins are ordinarily elongated parallel to the direction of movement ofthe scale cars and are provided with a plurality of gates spaced alongthe width of the bin struc tiir'e for controlling the delivery of'material to the cars. It is desirable that each bin gate be of onlymoderate length for convenience in discharging measured quantities ofmaterial and also for convenience in operation and control. The fullwidth of the bin is divided into perhaps four gates, more or less.Difficulties have arisen in bin structures in common use due to the factthat the sloping iioors of the bins have been provided with hingestructures for the gates, forming relatively wide obstructions, ratherclosely spaced from one another, permitting the arching of materialbetween the obstructions; This arching adds to the difficulty ofdischarging the materials, requires manual labor, and is unde-' sirable."An object of the present invention is to provide a gate-controlled binstructure presenting a minimum of obstruction to the flow of materialthere from. .A further object is to provide a bin structure having aswinging gate, the fulcrum means for i said gate being located out ofthe path of ma-'- teriai in the bin structure.

A further object is to provide a bin structure 'A further object is toprovide a bin structure" 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-506) said scale as or thelike should strike said projecting means while the scale car is inmotion."

' of one embodiment of'the present invention having a sloping dischargewall and a plurality of pairs of gates for controlling discharge along Afurther object is to provide a bin structure 7 having a lifting gateprovided'with projecting 7 means adapted to be lifted by operating meanscarried by a scale car or the like wherein the dangeroi damage isminimized in the event that '7 A further object is ,to provide a binstructure having a gate provided with projecting means adapted to beengaged by a lifting member, said lifting member being yieldable wherebyto avoid damage in the event that it should be struck b any portion of amoving scale car.

proceeds.

Referring to the drawings-- Figure l is a fragmentary view in sideelevation showing a plurality of bin gates;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by thearrows 22 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is asectional view taken along the;curved surface indicated by the arrows 33 off Figure 2;

Figure 4 ma sectional view taken along the planes indicated by thearrows 44 of Figure 2;.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the same the bin gates;

Figure 6 is a sectional view somewhat similar to Figure '2 butillustrating a modified construction.

- Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in section taken 1 along the planesindicated by the arrows 1-1 i of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a view in elevation taken in the: direction of the arrows8-8 of Figure 6, the liftj ing member on the scale car being located,however, at a level Where it strikes a yielda'ble proture.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5, the numerals l0" and II indicate thesloping walls of a bin i leading to a throat indicated by the numerali2.

The outer boundary of this throat, adjacent to the .wall I0, is definedby the rail I3, which is shown in inverted position. Spaced downwardlyand outwardly from the rail i3 is the rail l4. Both'of said rails arefast with respect to the walls in and II. ..The space between the rails;l3' and i4 permits access to the interior of the bin from the outsidethereof. The angular relationship between the locations of the rail [3and therail l4 will be such that there will be no tendency for materialwithin the bin to escape 3 therethrough. However, the space between therails I3 and I4 may be closed, if preferred, by a closure means,preferably removable.

Disposed along the width of the bin, that istransversely of the binstructure as illustrated in Figure 1, are a plurality of housing membersor fulcrum protecting members l5-l5 having the side walls [6-16 and thetop walls IT. Thetop walls Illl of the housing members are securelyfastened to the bottom portion of the;

rail M.

The housing members I5-I 5 provide receptacles for the swinging arms ofthe bin gates, and,

also accommodate fulcrum means. forsaid swing-.

controlled by a double gate mechanismincludi ng the inner swinging gatel9 andthe outer swinginggate 20. These two gates l9 and have a commonaXis of swing, indicated by the numeral 2|. Preferably the axes of swingof all of the pairs of gates l9 and 20 cooperating with the same slopingwall II will be disposed in line.

The two gates I9 and 20 associated with each opening I8 cooperate witheach otherto perform the well known function of double gate structures,of insuring the stoppageof flow of material even though one Of the gatesshould be closed upon a lump of material and should therefore be heldpartially open, as explained in the patentjto Hayes No. 1,525,236.

The inner gate I9, whichis of arcuate crosssection having its axiscoincident with the axis 21, includes two swingingarms 2 2'22. the.outer gates 20 includes two swinging arms 23-23. A swinging arm 22 ofone inner gate. [9 and a swinging arm 22 of the next adjacent inner gate[9 are located to swing within the'same home ing. member l5. A swingingarm23 of one outer gate 20 and a swinging arm 23 of the next adjae centouter gate 20arealso located within the same housing member l5. This isclearlyillustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 5. The adjacent swinging arms22-2.2 of adjacent inner gates I 5 and'the adjacent swinging arms 23-23of adjacent outer gates 20 are swingingly mounted upon a 'cylindricalmember 24, bushings22a and 23a. being provided to reduce friction. Eachmember 24 is;

carried by a pair of-lugs 25-25 fast to the supporting structure of theadjacent sloping wall II. A keeper 26 is provided for securingthecylindrical member 24 against either longitudinal or rotativemovement relative to the lugs 25-25,

Each inner gate I9 is provided, adjacent to each of its sideextremities, with a reinforcing angle 26 and a lug 21. The lugs 2'!,21at the two extremities of each inner gate I9-are adapted to be engagedon their under sides by the swing-j.

ing arms 23 of the corresponding outer gate 20;, Said lugs 2l2T, asshown in Figure 2, are dis:

posed at a materially higher level thantheplane, bounding the upperextremities of the swinging arms '2323 of the corresponding outer gate20, so. that when an outer gate20 is raised the lifting of thecorresponding inner gate [9 will occur after Each. of

the outer gate 20 has risen through a material distance. When the outergate 20 is lowered, the inner gate 19 will close before the outer gate20 closes.

The swinging arms 2323 of the gate 20 preferably take the form ofchannels. The closure portion of the gate 20 is .made up of the channel28v and the angle 29. Mounted upon the inner side of the channel 28 isthe bracket 30, which includes the two arms 3l-3l spaced apart andsupporting the roller 32.

Thenumeral'33 indicates an arm which may be.. carried by-a scale .car orother receptacle for receivmg. material from the bin. The arm 33 may beraised or lowered by mechanism not illustrated. Such mechanism is wellknown to those s'killedin' the art'and need not be described in .detail.

ing arms 23-23 thereofgwill engage the lugs 2T-2'l' of the inner gatetflywhereby furtherliiting movement of the arm 33 will result in theraising of both gates. The gate'f9, as'shown in dotted lines inFigure 2,maybe raised up to a region where the upper edge of said gate l9 is in.

proximity to the rail [3. Material from the bin will fiowdown throughthe openings l8-l8 be-' tween the housin members l5. The top walls;l|..l1 of the housingmembers |5l5 will not',

be. effective to retain any considerable amountol' material flowing downfrom the sloping wall H,'

and will not provide effective abutments for arching of materialthereac'ross; In the event, however, that any such arching should occur,it would be a simple matter for a wqrkm'amatter thegates have beenlowered, 'to insert a tool through the space between the rails l3 and Hto break such an arch.

The fulcrum'means for each of the gates l9.

and 20 .is located out of the flow of .material in the bin, so'that saidfulcrum'means will "not become clogged with such material, andgof"course, present no obstructions for theundesirable arching'of suchmaterial. The. gate means move in, an arc disposed entirely above saidslopingbota tom wall but said gate means are fulcrumed upon meansdisposed belowthe sloping'bottom wall;

The arrangement'is su'c'h'tha't there is no interruption in the floor ofthe bin or passage, since the fulcrum is disposed at the two' sides 'ofeach gate i in an intermediate region between adjacent gates.

According tothe construction illustrated-in Figures 6, 7 and 8.,Ithe'bracket on theonter gate is 'yieldable longitudinally of the binstructure, that is-a1o'ng theline of. movement of the scale car.

Referring to Figures 6, '7 and 8, a scale car is in-- dicated bythenumeral 350,, which scale car is provided with the lifting arm 38.Saidjarm takes the form of a bracket carryinga short roller iif,theirollertl' being adapted to engage the under side of the bracketEdwhena lifting force is; to be exerted'upon' the' outer'gate 26a. Saidbracket (H After the outer gate 20 has,

has a portio'ri'38 adapted to have a sliding movement against the rearside of the channel 28. Said channel 28 is provided with the arcuateslot 39 for receiving a pair of outstanding studs40-4IJ carried by theportion 38 of the-bracket 34. A pair of nuts 4 l--4| are carried by thestuds 40'4fl and are adapted to frictionally hold the bracket 34 inright-angular relationship with the adjacent portion of the outer gate20, as illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. r p

The structure illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 has the advantage thatif the bracket 34 should be in position to be struck by the bracket 36carried by the scale car when said scale car is moved, no destructiveeffects would result, the bracket 34 merely yielding in a swingingmovement about the pivot line 35 to allow the passage of the bracket 36.The bracket 34 may then be moved back to its proper right-angularposition with respect to the channel 28, the nuts 41- being turned downto yieldably hold the bracket 34 in this position.

The construction illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 has the furtheradvantage that the lifting force will, in practice, be applied to theouter gate 20a always in the same position symmetrically disposed withrespect to said gate for the reason that the bracket 34 will be locatedsymmetrically with respect to said gate. This will occur without carefulspotting of the scale car carrying the bracket 36. It is more important,generally, to have this lifting force symmetrically disposed withrespect to the outer gate 20a than to have the region of contactsymmetrically placed with respect to the roller 31.

Though certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In bin structure, in combination, a sloping wall having slots at itslower edge, housing members of inverted U-shaped cross-section coveringsaid slots and dividing said wall into a plurality of dischargepassageways, gate means for controlling said passageways, and fulcrummeans for swingingly mounting said gate means, said fulcrum means beinglocated below the plane of said sloping wall, the side portions of saidgate means being located in said housing members, said gate means havingan arc of movement disposed entirely above said sloping wall.

2. In bin structure, in combination, a sloping wall having slotsadjacent to its lower extremity, housing members of inverted U-shapedcrosssection covering said slots and dividing said wall into a pluralityof discharge passageways spaced apart by said housing members, and gatemeans for controlling each of said passageways, said gate meansincluding swinging side members, adjacent swinging side members ofadjacent gate means being located within one of said housing members,the fulcrum means for said swinging members being located below saidsloping wall.

3. In bin structure, in combination, a sloping wall having slotsadjacent to its lower extremity, housing members of inverted U-shapedcrosssection covering said slots and dividing said wall into a pluralityof discharge passageways spaced apart by said housing members, and gatemeans for controlling each of said passageways, said gate meansincluding swinging side members, ad- ,jacent swinging side members ofadjacent gate 6v means beinglocated within one of said slots, saidswingingmembers having fulcrum means located belowthe plane of saidsloping wall, the side por tions of said gate means being located insaid housing members, the range of movement of said gate means beingentirely above said sloping wall.

4. In bin structure, in combination, a sloping wall, housing members ofinverted U-shaped cross section dividing said wallinto a plurality ofdischarge passageways, and gate means for controlling each of saidpassageways, said gate means including swinging side members, adjacentswinging side members of adjacent gate means being located within one ofsaid housing members, said adjacent swinging members having commonfulcrum means located below the plane of said wall, the side portions ofsaid gate means being located in said housing members, the range ofmovement of said gate means being entirely above said sloping wall.

5. In bin structure, in combination, a sloping wall having slots in itslower extremity, and housing members of inverted U-shaped cross-sectioncovering said slots and dividing said wall into a plurality of dischargepassageways, each' of said passageways being controlled by a gateassembly, each gate assembly including two gates in series With eachother, one of said gates being provided with abutment means adapted tobe engaged by the other of said gates after said other gate has beenlifted throughout a predetermined region, adjacent portions of adjacentgate assemblies being located within one of said slots, said adjacentportions having common fulcrum means located below the plane of saidsloping wall, the range of movement of said gate means being entirelyabove said sloping wall.

6. A bin structure including a sloping wall having slots in its lowerextremity, another wall opposite to said sloping wall, a plurality ofhousing members of inverted U-shaped cross-section covering said slotsand dividing said sloping wall into a plurality of passageways for thedischarge of material, said other wall having an opening therein locatedabove said housing members whereby access may be had to the interior ofsaid bin to remove deposits of material from said housing members, andgate means independently controlling said discharge passageways,adjacent portions of adjacent gate means being swingingly disposedwithin a common housing member, said gate means having fulcrum meanslocated below the plane of said sloping wall, the range of movement ofsaid gate means being entirely above said sloping wall.

7. A bin structure including a sloping wall having slots in its lowerextremity, another wall opposite to said sloping wall, a plurality ofhousing members of inverted, U-shaped cross-section covering said slotsand dividing said sloping wall into a plurality of passageways for thedischarge of material, said other wall having an opening therein locatedabove said housing members whereby access may be had to the interior ofsaid bin to remove deposits of material from said housing members, andgate means. independently controlling said discharge passageways,adjacent portions of adjacent gate means being swingingly disposedwithin a common slot, said gate means having fulcrum means located belowthe plane of said sloping wall, the range of movement of said gate meansbeing entirely above said sloping wall, said opening in said other wallbeing defined by two parallel structural steel members spaced apart, thelowermost of said structural s'beel membexs beingspaced outwardly withrespect to theuppermost of said structural steel members whereby tominimize the'tendency of material within said bin structure to escapetherebetween.

WYMAN EATON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are-of record in the file Ofthis patent:

Number 81 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Curtis Mar. 26, 1895 CochranOct. 25, 1898 Felton Aug. 14, 1900 Hayes Feb. 3, 1925 Hayes Mar. 23,1926' Boynton Nov. '12, 1929 B'oynton Dec. 10, 1929 Tolman Feb. 11, 1930

